Missouri Substitute Teacher Sentenced for Exploiting Students

A former substitute teacher from Missouri has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing middle school students, effectively turning them into sex workers. Carissa Jane Smith, 30, from Dixon, engaged in illegal activities where she paid students for sex and provided them with drugs and alcohol.

Smith was arrested last year on multiple charges, including rape of a minor and sex trafficking. Details of her case began to emerge following her guilty plea in September on charges related to first-degree child endangerment and sexual contact with a student.

This troubling case unfolded over a year, starting in late summer 2023, after Smith was hired in 2022. Authorities reported that she worked at various schools within the Dixon R-1 school district, which serves about 2,000 families in the area.

Investigations revealed that Smith paid students over $100 in cash or through apps in exchange for sexual acts. According to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, the abuse often took place in her car or at her home while her husband was away.

One victim recounted that during their encounter, Smith encouraged him to ejaculate inside her, even after he expressed discomfort. She reportedly offered him more money as a response and warned him not to speak about what had happened.

Court documents indicate that Smith went to extreme lengths to cover up her actions, including destroying a student’s phone when he mentioned having a video of a sexual act. Additionally, she even coerced her husband into lying to avoid legal repercussions.

Interestingly, authorities noted that Smith’s husband had threatened one of the victims with a baseball bat after the boy allegedly showed him a video of his own marijuana use.

Smith was arrested in August of last year and faced sentencing on November 19th.